James Emmett Foerstner Jr.

Where most trial lawyers spend their entire career without winning significant verdicts or, for that matter, seven figure verdicts, James E. Foerstner has won several. Some of those million dollar plus verdicts include $3.5 million dollars for the death of an infant (Top 50 Verdicts in Pennsylvania for 2004); $3.25 millions dollars for compromised sight in one eye; $3.0 million dollars for failure to diagnose lung cancer resulting in death (Top 50 Verdicts in Pennsylvania for 2008); $1.88 million dollars for the failure to diagnose bladder cancer resulting in death (highest verdict in Lackawanna, Pa in 2009) (during that trial, and in addition to the verdict, one of the named defendants settled its case for $2.0 million dollars); $1.45 million dollars for the failure to diagnose and treat a perforated bowel resulting in death); $1.25 million dollars for the loss of a kidney; and $1.0 million dollars for a spinal cord injury. In addition to these multiple seven figure verdicts, he has consistently tried and won many other cases that have resulted in successful outcomes for his clients.

Besides trial victories, Jim has been responsible for multiple six and seven figure settlements related to medical malpractice, products liability, and premise liability. Those include settlements for spinal cord injury, partial blindness, loss of organs, misdiagnosis of cancer, death, and other injuries. Among those settlements, he represented ten of the thirty-nine people injured in the infamous Pier 34 collapse on the Delaware River. Jim’s work was instrumental in obtaining a significant portion of the $29.6 million dollar settlement.

Jim did not take a traditional path to trial practice and the law. His preparation for a career in medical malpractice litigation began during a successful medical instrument sales career. While working full time as a medical instrument sales professional, Jim went to law school and graduated in the upper third of his class. In 1989, legendary Cuyahoga County, Ohio Prosecuting Attorney, John E. Corrigan offered him a position as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. As a newly minted lawyer and prosecutor, Jim tried his first case involving a man who ritualistically raped and sodomized two of his three children in a basement lair decorated with pentagons and other symbols of satanic worship. Jim sent the man to jail to serve ten consecutive life sentences. During his five years as a prosecutor, Jim tried and convicted dozens of other criminals in major felony cases involving rape, robbery, homicide, fraud and drugs.

After he left the prosecutor’s office, Jim moved to Philadelphia and joined a major defense firm where the bulk of his work involved representing doctors and hospitals in medical malpractice actions. His practice also included the representation of small businesses and major corporations in a variety of civil matters.

In 1998, Jim was handling a medical malpractice case against Beasley Firm attorney, Slade H. McLaughlin. During that case, Slade introduced Jim to McLaughlin’s boss, the formidable James E. Beasley, Sr. Mr. Beasley immediately offered him a job.

Since joining The Beasley Firm, Jim has vigorously represented the rights of the injured.

Jim’s philosophy is simple; you have to outwork your opponents. “The best lawyer in the courtroom is not the smartest guy, but the best prepared one”, he said.

Jim is also a member of multiple professional organizations, he has been asked to speak on various legal topics including trial tactics, mediation in medical malpractice cases, and developments in the law of medical malpractice, among others. In his spare time he designs and builds high quality reproduction 18th century furniture. He is also involved in competitive shooting sports and is an active scuba diver and fly fisherman. He and his wife, Georgia, live with their daughter, Augustine, in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania.